Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UN Population Fund

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 16 October 2023 to Question 203848 on the UN Population Fund and to the £425 million the UK Government pledged to the United Nations Population Fund Supplies Partnership in 2019 for 2020-2025, to how much that figure was reduced as a result of the decision to reduce that pledge in 2021; and whether the Government is on track to disburse the remaining sum outstanding under that revised pledge by the end of 2025.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government previously agreed to provide the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Supplies Partnership with £425 million from 2020 - 2025. This was later reduced following reductions in Overseas Development Assistance spend in 2021 to £264 million from 2020-2025. We are, however, still the largest donor to UNFPA Supplies and we are supporting supplies in additional ways such as through market shaping.The UK Government has disbursed £204 million and is on track to disburse the final £60 million payment next financial year. The programme closes in March 2025.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number of civilians that have been killed in El Fasher in the last two months.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of civilian casualties as a result of the conflict between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces around Jebel Aulia in southern Khartoum in the last week.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The United Nations estimate that up to 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Sudan since April. We do not have verified data on the number of civilian casualties as a result of the conflicts around Jebel Aulia or El Fasher specifically.

Marine Environment: Treaties

Ben Lake: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will take legislative steps to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK was pleased to be among the first signatories to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement when it opened for signature at the UN on 20 September 2023 and the Agreement was laid before Parliament for scrutiny on 16 October 2023. Work is in hand on the legislation and other measures needed to translate the detailed and complex provisions of the Agreement into UK law before we can ratify the Agreement, which will be taken forward when parliamentary time allows.

Malawi: Development Aid

Patrick Grady: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with his (a) international counterparts and (b) delivery partners in Malawi on the impact of the devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha on the delivery of UK aid-funded programmes in that country.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The approval of an $178 million Extended Credit Facility (ECF) in Malawi reflects important reform progress by the Government of Malawi to boost economic growth. The recent 44 per cent exchange rate realignment was a tough, but necessary measure to secure an ECF, as foreign exchange reserves were critically low and the overvalued currency was hampering export competitiveness. The UK development programme in Malawi will continue to provide support over this period of economic adjustment. In coordination with other partners, this support will include prioritising additional support for those facing food insecurity, through providing cash and food.

Development Aid

Steve McCabe: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of reducing the Official Development Assistance budget to 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) on foreign aid spending; and if he will make it his policy to increase that budget to 0.7% of GNI.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Due to the impact of the pandemic on public finances, the Government took the difficult decision temporarily to reduce the UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) to 0.5 per cent from 2021.The FCDO's focus has been on how best to use its revised ODA budget. FCDO Ministers have used a range of information, including Equalities Impact Assessments and analyses of need, to make informed spending decisions, including focusing spend on the poorest and most vulnerable.The Government remains committed to returning to a target of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA when, on a sustainable basis, the Government is not borrowing for day-to-day spending and underlying debt is falling.

Horn of Africa: Floods

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help support (a) Somalia and (b) other countries in the Horn of Africa following the recent floods.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: El Niño has caused major flooding in Kenya and Somalia impacting more than 1.25 million people. Throughout the wider Horn of Africa region an estimated 7 million people are at risk flooding due to El Niño.In tandem with our humanitarian partners the UK is stepping up its response. In Somalia we have allocated £11 million in humanitarian funding towards dedicated El Niño prevention and response projects with funding also provided to existing delivery partners to help take UK efforts to scale. Elsewhere, UK officials are working closely with relief agencies to ensure aid reaches those who need it most.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the bi-annual report on the Government Wine Cellar for 2020-22.

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many bottles of (a) red wine (b) white wine and (c) spirits and brandies from the Government wine cellar were consumed in each of the last two years.

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what is the value of the (a) wine and (b) spirits and brandies from the Government Wine Cellar consumed in each of the last two years.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Bi-Annual Report on the Government Hospitality Wine Cellar for 2020-2022, will include a full breakdown of the number of bottles of red wine, white wine, spirits and brandies from the Government wine cellar that were consumed in each of the last two years and their value. The report will be published before the Christmas recess and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House when the Written Ministerial Statement has been released.

Israel: West Bank

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Israeli authorities to encourage them to (a) condemn acts of violence and extremism in the West Bank, (b) prevent settler violence, (c) ensure accountability for perpetrators of such violence and (d) condemn extremist rhetoric.

David Rutley: The UK's position on settlements is clear and longstanding. They are illegal under international law and contrary to the cause of peace. Reports of Palestinian civilians being murdered by settlers in Occupied Palestinian Territories are appalling. We welcome statements, including that made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, condemning settler violence. But we have been clear that Israel must do more to prevent escalation in the West Bank, and that we must see tangible action to bring perpetrators to justice. The Prime Minister raised the issue of settler violence with Prime Minister Netanyahu in their recent call.

Marine Protected Areas

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of proposals to establish new high seas marine protected areas under the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK was pleased to be among the first signatories to the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement when it opened for signature at the UN on 20 September 2023 and the Agreement was laid before Parliament for scrutiny on 16 October 2023. Work is in hand on the legislation and other measures needed to translate the provisions of the Agreement into UK law before we can ratify the Agreement. The UK will continue to be proactive in preparing for implementation and entry into force and will work with international partners and stakeholders to identify potential areas for High Seas Marine Protected Areas. The UK is also funding a project to develop a shortlist of potential area-based management tools that could be developed into future proposals once the BBNJ Agreement comes into force.

Department of Health and Social Care

Royal Oldham Hospital: Concrete

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her Department's timescale is for removing the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in Royal Oldham Hospital.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Royal Oldham Hospital: Concrete

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of replacing the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in Royal Oldham Hospital.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Paediatrics: Waiting Lists

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of children awaiting a community paediatrics appointment in England as of 17 November 2023.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Weather

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to clarify the role of primary care in the NHS winter plan.

Andrea Leadsom: NHS England has set out specific roles for primary care in the Winter 2023/24 system letter. Specifically, systems are asked to prioritise the ‘Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care’, focusing on interventions that may support admission avoidance including:- self directed care- increasing capacity through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme- improving and expanding access to general practice and community pharmacy- understanding primary care demand and pressures with plans in place to mitigate and respond.

Health: Screening

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she would make it her policy that patients over retirement age should have an annual health check.

Andrea Leadsom: For registered patients aged 75 years old and over, their named accountable general practitioner (GP) is responsible for ensuring that any GP services which they are contracted to provide, and are necessary to meet the patient’s needs, are coordinated, and delivered to that patient.   This includes ensuring these patients receive an annual health check on request and taking all reasonable steps to recognise and appropriately respond to the physical and psychological needs of the patient in a timely manner.

Dental Services

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will publish the number of registered dentists in (a) Oldham and (b) England in each year since 2010.

Andrea Leadsom: The General Dental Council (GDC) is the independent regulator of dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs) practising in the United Kingdom and enforces the standards they must adhere to. To practise in the UK, dentists and DCPs are required to hold registration with the GDC.The Department does not hold data on how many dentists and DCPs have been registered with the GDC. The GDC holds its own data on dentists and DCPs who have been registered with them. The GDC regularly publishes registration reports on its website, and these are available at the following link:https://www.gdc-uk.org/about-us/what-we-do/the-registers/registration-reports

Dental Services

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) adult and (b) child NHS dental patients in (i) Oldham and (ii) England have seen a dentist in each year since 2010.

Andrea Leadsom: The following table shows the number of adults and children seen by a dentist in both Oldham Local Authority and England since 2010/11: EnglandOldham Local AuthorityFinancial YearAdults seenChildren seenAdults seenChildren seen2010/1121,401,0007,771,000Not AvailableNot Available2011/1221,761,0007,813,000Not AvailableNot Available2012/1321,927,0007,837,000Not AvailableNot Available2013/1422,009,0007,907,000Not AvailableNot Available2014/1522,032,0007,992,000Not AvailableNot Available2015/1622,140,4496,723,85499,55535,3152016/1722,159,2236,799,092100,06835,8812017/1822,060,7786,901,430100,76037,0362018/1921,959,9797,000,685101,95838,0262019/2021,012,9856,299,30699,47234,7412020/2118,190,9873,946,04888,51620,0172021 – 202216,409,6365,589,20182,38230,4752022 – 202318,111,6096,372,89290,81635,216 Source: NHS Dental Statistics for England (NHS Digital)Note: Data for Oldham Local Authority is not available for the years prior to 2015/16. This is due to changes in National Health Service geographies, which has meant that the data cannot be precisely mapped to the local authority in previous years.

Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Women

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women (a) have been assessed to need and (b) are receiving (i) drug and (ii) alcohol recovery services.

Andrea Leadsom: Information is not collected centrally on the number of women assessed by drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. Drug and alcohol treatment in England is commissioned by local authorities, who are responsible for assessing local need in their area, and commissioning a range of services and interventions to meet that need. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) provides oversight of local delivery at a national level and continue to monitor implementation against the aims of the Government’s 10-year drug strategy.OHID has published prevalence estimates for opiate and crack use which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/opiate-and-crack-cocaine-use-prevalence-estimatesThis includes an estimate that there were 71,749 women who were dependent on these drugs in 2019/20, a rate of 4.01 per thousand women. Alcohol prevalence figures are not broken down by sex but can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-dependence-prevalence-in-englandThe latest publicly available adult substance misuse treatment statistics for England can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2021-to-2022/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2021-to-2022-reportThe publication indicates there were 94,135 women in contact with drug and alcohol services between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022. Out of these women, 38,736 were in treatment for opiate use, 9,761 were in treatment for non-opiate use only, 10,299 were in treatment for non-opiate and alcohol use and 35,339 were in treatment for alcohol use only.

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rheumatology: Primary Health Care

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve the medical skill mix in primary healthcare to help diagnose and treat (a) musculoskeletal and (b) rheumatic conditions.

Andrea Leadsom: General Practices (GPs) are self-employed contractors to the National Health Service and these employers to determine how best to staff their Primary Care Networks (PCNs) or GP practice to best meet the needs of their population. The demands each patient places on their GP practice are different and can be affected by many different factors, including rurality and patient demographics.GPs are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge (including for MSK and rheumatic conditions) remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.We remain committed to growing and diversifying the GP workforce, through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme Primary Care Networks and practices have recruited over 34,000 additional staff including Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, and social prescribing link workers. First Contact Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists can help with assessing, diagnosing, treating and managing musculoskeletal, including rheumatic, conditions. As of September 2023, working in GP practices and PCNs, there were:- 2,006 FTE First Contact Physiotherapists- 28 FTE Occupational Therapists- 24 FTE Advanced Occupational Therapist PractitionersIndividual employers are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained and competent to carry out their role, and for investing in the future of their staff through providing continuing professional development funding.

Dental Services: Waiting Lists

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was for registering with an NHS dentist in (a) Oldham and (b) England in the latest period for which data is available.

Andrea Leadsom: Patients do not routinely join dental waiting lists in the National Health Service and are only registered with a dental practice for a course of treatment. We are working on our Dentistry Recovery Plan which will include how we continue to improve access, particularly for new patients.

HIV Infection: Discrimination

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential for legislative changes to help remove stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

Andrea Leadsom: The HIV Action Plan is the cornerstone of our approach in England to drive forward progress and achieve our goal to end new HIV transmissions, AIDS and HIV-related deaths within England by 2030. It includes a key objective to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV and addressing stigma. In December, UK Health Security Agency will publish a monitoring and evaluation report of the HIV Action Plan for England as well as the results of the Positive Voices 2022 survey which provide granular data and findings on HIV-related stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV in England, Wales and Scotland.The Government announced on 24 October its intention to change the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to allow people who are HIV positive, but with an undetectable viral load, to donate their gametes as part of fertility treatment and will continue considering potential changes which can support people living with HIV and improve their quality of life.

Health Services: Weather

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to move winter pressures from secondary care to primary care.

Andrea Leadsom: In July 2023, NHS England wrote to integrated care boards (ICBs), trusts and primary care networks to set out a national approach to 2023/24 winter planning, building on plans already set out in our ‘Delivery plan for recovering urgent and emergency care services’. It also defines the role of primary care to enhance collaboration between systems and ensure each are better equipped to perform their functions.The letter sets out four key priorities that must be delivered across all parts of the system to meet the challenges ahead:- System resilience and surge planning across all services.- Clear roles and responsibilities for each part of the system.- A robust operating model allowing for effective escalation.- High-impact interventions that all systems will be asked to deliver and provide assurance against.

Health Services: Weather

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the preparedness of the NHS in Essex for winter 2023-24; and how much additional funding his Department plans to provide to NHS services in Essex for winter 2023-24.

Helen Whately: No such assessment has been made, as local winter resilience plans and resourcing are an operational matter for the National Health Service. National Health Service winter planning at a national level started earlier this year than in previous years. The urgent and emergency care recovery plan was published in January 2023 and included £1 billion of dedicated funding. In April we distributed £600 million discharge funding to local authorities and the NHS to support increased capacity in community care and social care to enable earlier discharges from hospital and avoid unnecessary admissions. In July 2023, NHS England wrote to integrated care boards, trusts and primary care networks to set out a national approach to 2023/24 winter planning and the key steps to be taken across all parts of the system to meet the challenges expected from winter pressures.

Social Services: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding of (a) adult and (b) children's social care; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the level of funding on those sectors.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care carries out regular exercises to assess the financial pressures facing adult social care. These assessments account for a wide range of pressures, such as inflation, National Living Wage increases and demographic changes. The Department of Health and Social Care continuously works closely with local authorities and the adult social care sector to understand what the impact of cost and demand pressures will be on service delivery.The Department of Health and Social Care’s assessment of financial pressures is shared with HM Treasury and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and used to inform decisions on the overall funding available to local government. Since the Spending Review the Government has made available up to £8.1 billion in additional funding over two years to support adult social care and discharge, including an additional £570 million announced in July 2023. This will put the adult social care system on a stronger financial footing and improve the quality of and access to care.As the Department for Education is responsible for children’s social care, the Department of Health and Social Care has made no assessment of its funding adequacy.

Paediatrics: Waiting Lists

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the average waiting time for a community paediatric appointment in England as of 17 November 2023.

Helen Whately: The following table shows the percentages of community paediatric services reporting wait times as of September 2023, the most recent period for which data is available: Waiting time periodPercentage of services0-4 weeks3%5-12 weeks24%13-24 weeks36%25-52 weeks33%53-76 weeks3%Over 76 weeks0%Source: Community Health Services Waiting Lists, NHS England

NHS: Databases

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there have been any instances of unauthorised parties gaining access to (a) sensitive data and (b) confidential information stored on the Federated Data Platform in the last 12 months.

Andrew Stephenson: The Federated Data Platform (FDP) is software that will sit across National Health Service trusts and integrated care systems allowing them to connect data they already hold in a secure and safe environment.NHS England announced the outcome of the tender for the FDP on Tuesday 21 November. The service is not yet live or in use. In line with current transition planning, we do not expect data to be placed into the FDP until 2024.No unauthorised parties have gained access to sensitive data or confidential information for the Care Coordination Solution or OPTICA pilots, which have been testing and demonstrating the kinds of benefits which the FDP is expected to deliver.

NHS: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what she plans to announce the proposed developer for the Federated Data Platform.

Andrew Stephenson: NHS England announced the outcome of the tender for the Federated Data Platform on Tuesday 21 November. This can be found at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/11/new-nhs-software-to-improve-care-for-millions-of-patients/

Alzheimer's Disease: Drugs

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had recent discussions with NHS Scotland on ensuring that newly-licensed Alzheimer's treatments are made available to patients as soon as possible in all regions of the UK.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department has liaised with colleagues in the Scottish Government to discuss preparations for the introduction and potential adoption of new medicines for Alzheimer’s disease, should they receive regulatory approval.

Department of Health and Social Care: Civil Servants

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 3,310 total headcount figure for permanent civil servants excluding agency workers working for his Department as of 31 March 2023, as detailed in Cabinet Office statistics entitled Permanent and temporary civil servants by sex, age band and department: 2023, published on 31 October 2023, what that figure was on 31 March (a) 2011, (b) 2016 and (c) 2020.

Andrew Stephenson: On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor announced an immediate cap on civil servant headcount across Whitehall to stop any further expansion, increase efficiencies and boost productivity.The Civil Service grew to manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the illegal war in Ukraine, but it is right that we reduce the size of the Civil Service over time as we drive up productivity and deliver efficiencies.The following table shows the total headcount figure for permanent civil servants working for the Department, excluding agencies:31 March 201131 March 201631 March 2020Total Departmental headcount261519521741

NHS

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve the accuracy of NHS (a) forecasts and (b) planning.

Andrew Stephenson: At the beginning of every financial year, NHS England set out their clear expectations in operational planning guidance. Integrated care systems (ICS) use this guidance to produce their detailed plans for the year ahead, and agree those plans with NHS England, who will then hold them to account for delivering them. As part of in-year monitoring and reporting forecasts will be revised where necessary.On financial planning and forecasting, the Department in turn holds NHS England to account through regular senior official and ministerial meetings. We have taken steps to improve the level of transparency and detail of financial information from NHS England to provide appropriate scrutiny to ensure taut and realistic forecasts are provided to HM Treasury. We also review NHS England operational performance. For example, this year we have set up an Elective Oversight Board to improve our assurance over elective activity plans and forecasts.

Dementia: Clinical Trials

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to incentivise overseas researchers to undertake clinical trials on dementia research in the UK.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), invests in world-class facilities, expertise and a skilled delivery workforce for clinical research in the National Health Service and wider health and care system. This infrastructure has been operational for many years as a centralised system, creating a unique offer in the United Kingdom for overseas researchers to undertake clinical trials, including in dementia. This includes the Dementia Translational Research Collaboration, which plays a critical role in coordinating UK dementia research in early phase clinical trials and the NIHR Clinical Research Network Dementias and Neurodegeneration Specialty, which supports patients, the public and health and care organisations across England to participate in dementia research spanning the full translational research pathway.The multi-year Vision for the Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery was published on 23 March 2021 and sets out our ambition to create a patient-centred, pro-innovation and digitally enabled clinical research environment. The Government also commissioned Lord O’Shaughnessy to conduct a review into commercial clinical trials following a drop in the UK’s performance during and following the pandemic. The Government published the full response to the Lord O’Shaughnessy review on 22 November 2023. The response provides an update on the significant progress we have made in recovering clinical trial performance and set out our plan, backed by up to £121 million, to strengthen the clinical trials ecosystem and make it quicker and easier for NHS patients to access the latest innovative treatments through clinical research.

NHS: Drugs

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of (a) updates to the programme manual used by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence including Rapid Access to Managed Access and (b) the introduction of the Innovative Medicines Fund.

Andrew Stephenson: The Government is committed to supporting rapid patient access to effective new medicines in a way that is fair to all parties and represents value to the National Health Service. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) plays an important role in supporting patient access to effective new medicines and is able to recommend most new medicines for use in the NHS. Where there is too much clinical uncertainty for NICE to be able to recommend routine funding, it is able to recommend medicines for use through the Cancer Drugs Fund or Innovative Medicines Fund which make promising medicines available to patients while further real-world evidence is collected to inform a final NICE recommendation.NICE is responsible for the methods and processes it uses in the evaluation of new medicines and the changes that it has recently made to its evaluation processes will enable it to produce faster guidance on simpler, low-risk treatments. NICE and NHS England are exploring options for rapid entry to managed access (REMA) that build on the experience of the Cancer Drugs Fund and Innovative Medicines Fund to support managed access to medicines. NICE has not yet made any changes to its health technology evaluation manual related to REMA.

NHS Learning Support Fund

Kim Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the NHS Learning Support Fund to people studying pharmaceutical science at (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate level.

Andrew Stephenson: The Government keeps the funding arrangements for all healthcare students under close review. At all times the Government must strike a balance between the level of support students receive and the need to make best use of public funds to deliver value for money. There are no immediate plans to change the scheme design.

Graft versus Host Disease: Medical Treatments

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to address regional disparities in access to newer treatments for Graft-versus-host disease.

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that (a) NICE, (b) NHS England and (c) he pharmaceutical industry work together to increase patient access to new therapies for Graft-versus-host disease.

Andrew Stephenson: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically- and cost-effective use of NHS resources. The NHS in England is legally required to make funding available in line with NICE’s recommendations within 90 days of a NICE decision, ensuring consistent access for all NHS patients in England to NICE recommended treatments.NICE works closely with NHS England and pharmaceutical companies throughout the guidance development process to ensure that companies can put forward as strong a value proposition as possible. NICE can recommend most new medicines for use in the NHS in England. Health is a devolved matter and decisions on access to medicines in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales are a matter for the devolved administrations.NICE is currently evaluating the medicine belumosudil for treating chronic graft versus host disease after two or more lines of systemic therapy. NICE’s draft guidance does not recommend belumosudil but is subject to a public consultation and is not final guidance. NICE’s committee will carefully consider all evidence as well as comments received during the consultation in developing its final guidance.

Department of Health and Social Care: Theft

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data their Department holds on the (a) number and (b) total cost of replacing (i) laptops, (ii) mobile phones, (iii) memory sticks and (iv) external hard drives that have been (A) lost and (B) stolen in the last year.

Andrew Stephenson: The following table includes the number of lost or stolen devices in the Department in the last 12 months and the cost of replacement. The Department does not issue memory sticks or external hard drives. TypeNumberReplacement Cost (ex-VAT)Stolen Laptops13£10,728.38Stolen Phones14£8,354.92Lost Laptops0£0Lost Mobile phones6£3,580.68 All Departmental IT is fully security encrypted. The Departmental security unit records and investigates each reported loss from the Department. If appropriate, the police are invited to undertake further inquiries. Lost and stolen phones are remotely wiped and a bar put on the SIM card. Lost and stolen laptops are remotely wiped.

Cystic Fibrosis: Medical Treatments

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recommendation from NICE that modulator therapies used to treat cystic fibrosis should no longer be funded on the NHS, when she plans to make a decision on this matter: and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that life-saving treatment is made available for children with cystic fibrosis.

Andrew Stephenson: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. NICE ensures that the price that the NHS pays for medicines represents value and it recommends the vast majority of medicines for use on the NHS, often as a result of commercial arrangements proposed during the NICE evaluation process. The NHS is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE.Since 2019, NHS patients have been able to access Orkambi, Symkevi and Kaftrio through an interim access agreement between NHS England, the company (Vertex), NICE, and the UK Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The agreement makes the medicines available for a limited time at a reduced price, while further information has been collected to inform a NICE appraisal. On 15 November 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved a new licence extension and children as young as two years old with cystic fibrosis are now eligible to receive Kaftrio through the interim access agreement.NICE is currently consulting on its draft recommendations on the use of Orkambi, Symkevi and Kaftrio and has not yet published its final recommendations. NICE continues to work with stakeholders to address the issues highlighted by the committee in the draft guidance. Under the terms of the interim access agreement for the cystic fibrosis medicines, Orkambi, Symkevi and Kaftrio, eligible children and adults with cystic fibrosis can continue to receive ongoing treatment and be initiated onto treatment with these medicines, as clinically appropriate, while NICE concludes its evaluation.

Fit and Proper Persons Requirement Review

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress her Department has made implementing the recommendations of the Kark Review into the Fit and Proper Person Test.

Andrew Stephenson: The Kark Review was published in 2019 and made seven recommendations for the Government, Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS England and other relevant organisations. The Government accepted five of those recommendations and the Department is working with NHS England to implement them.In August 2023, NHS England published the Fit and Proper Persons Framework, which relates to the first four recommendations. This introduces a standardised reference system and a means of retaining information regarding background checks for individual directors. The new Framework came into effect on 30 September 2023 and all boards are now expected to have started work on implementing the Framework. By 31 March 2024, organisations will need to have fully implemented the Framework, incorporating a Leadership Competence Framework and updating the Electronic Staff Record database.Recommendation six (to remove the words ‘privy to’ from relevant regulations) has not yet been implemented.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Drugs

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of demand for medication used to treat ADHD since 2010.

Andrew Stephenson: There are currently no plans to make such an assessment.It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision, including for ADHD assessment and support, to meet the health and care needs of their local population, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE guidelines for ADHD diagnosis and management aim to improve the diagnosis of ADHD and the quality of care and support people receive. The Department is looking into options for improving data collection and reporting on ADHD assessment waiting times, to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way and in line with the NICE guidelines.We are aware of global disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of ADHD. Medicine shortages are an ongoing issue that the Department has been managing for many years. Supply problems can arise for various reasons such as manufacturing issues, problems with the raw ingredients, sudden spikes in demand and batch failures. The Department has well established processes to manage and mitigate supply problems.

Graft versus Host Disease: Clinical Trials

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) IMPACT, (b) AGAVE and (c) other clinical trials for new Graft-versus-host disease treatments.

Andrew Stephenson: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) have received funding from the Department to set up a process for manufacturing and supplying mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). This process has been set up and the first batches of cells will be available for supply from NHSBT in 2024. These will be issued upon request from hospitals under the Specials program but is not routinely commissioned.NHSBT funded the IMPACT clinical trials network and subsequently Advancing Clinical Trials Ltd (ACT). The network is currently running two trials in the area of GvHD. NHSBT with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) fund research into transplantation and cellular therapy via the Blood and Transplant Research Unit based in Oxford. While at an early stage, some of the projects leading from this aim to reduce and/or treat GvHD. The NIHR has further supported the delivery of the AGAVE clinical trial via the NIHR infrastructure.

Semaglutide

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of NHS patients who would be eligible to use Wegovy.

Andrew Stephenson: Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that Wegovy, otherwise known as semaglutide, is used as an option in the National Health Service for weight management in adults that have at least one weight-related comorbidity and a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35.0 kg/m2, or a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 to 34.9 kg/m2 and meet the criteria for referral to specialist weight management services in NICE’s clinical guideline on obesity: identification, assessment and management, which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg189. Wegovy is recommended for use within a specialist weight management service providing multidisciplinary management of overweight or obesity (including but not limited to tiers three and four). The Department estimates that more people will be eligible for this treatment than could be treated if access is only available through specialist weight management services, which are primarily hospital-based services. That is why we have announced up to £40 million funding over two years to explore ways to make obesity drugs safely available to more patients living with obesity outside of hospital settings.

NHS: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the value for money of the Federated Data Platform.

Andrew Stephenson: The Federated Data Platform (FDP) business case includes an assessment of the investment, the benefits anticipated, and the return of investment anticipated over the lifetime of the programme. Benefits are provided for cash, non-cash and societal benefits and throughout the approval process, are assessed by a number of independent assessors from both NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and other government departments to ensure that investments provide value. The FDP is a Tier A Government Major Projects Portfolio programme and therefore will be required to report on the return on investment and benefits realised throughout the lifetime of the programme to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

NHS: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that the provider of the Federated Data Platform is prohibited from selling data.

Andrew Stephenson: The provider of the Federated Data Platform software will be prohibited from selling, and unable to sell, data.

NHS: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to inform patients about the (a) Federated Data Platform and (b) use of their data.

Andrew Stephenson: We want to ensure public trust and confidence in how data is used within the Federated Data Platform (FDP) and that the views of the public inform future use. NHS England has engaged in several activities, including: a series of public deliberation events and national research earlier in the year to understand the views of the public about how their data is used, and expectations about how they are informed about its use; public focus groups, and engagement with public voice groups, to coproduce web content for the launch of the procurement process; continued publication of clear and accessible information, including details about who will accessing data and for what purpose, with this information being co-created with public/patient groups and relevant stakeholders wherever possible; development of an engagement portal which will be published shortly to support the public to register to get involved in engagement activity, ask questions and provide feedback, which will be analysed and the emerging themes explored in future public engagement sessions; establishment of a patient and public panel to support the programme on an ongoing basis; ongoing engagement with a range of national stakeholders who represent public and patient voices and working to establish a stakeholder advisory group; development of a co-produced easy read FDP explainer which will be published shortly; and monitoring of views and sentiment regarding patient data which are tracked through a public survey. NHS England will continue to engage with the public, in a range of ways, for the life of the programme, to understand their views and inform future use cases.

Abortion: Telemedicine

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure women accessing telemedicine abortion services are given sufficient time and advice on which to base a decision.

Maria Caulfield: Women requesting a telemedicine abortion should have access to objective information and, if required, counselling and decision-making support about their pregnancy options.In line with the Department’s Required Standard Operating Procedures for approved independent sector abortion providers in England (RSOPs) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists clinical guideline on the Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, when a woman requests an abortion, careful and sensitive enquiry as to the reasons should be made. There should be the opportunity for further discussion, especially where the woman expresses any doubts. Women who are certain of their decision to have an abortion should not be subjected to delay or compelled to have counselling.

Eyes: Research

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is taking steps to work with the devolved administration to promote eye care research in Northern Ireland’s universities.

Andrew Stephenson: Whilst health policy is largely devolved, the Department works together with other Government departments and the devolved administrations to support research across the United Kingdom. From autumn 2023, health and social care researchers, including universities and in some cases subject matter experts (SMEs), in the devolved administrations will have increased access to health and social care research funding via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including eye care.The move has been agreed following consultation with the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office, Health and Care Research Wales and Health and Social Care Research & Development in Northern Ireland. The announcement expands the list of NIHR research programmes that are available to researchers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The move will boost research across the United Kingdom and help increase access to research for people in the three devolved administrations.

Cancer: Diagnosis

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to ensure non-stageable cancers are included in the NHS early diagnosis target.

Andrew Stephenson: The NHS Long Term Plan set an ambition that, by 2028, the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 will rise from around half now to three-quarters of cancer patients. Achieving this will mean that, from 2028, 55,000 more people each year will survive their cancer for at least five years after diagnosis. Due to the nature of the ambition, this only includes stageable cancers.To find and diagnosed all cancers earlier, NHS England is streamlining cancer pathways to support diagnosis within 28 days by implementing non-symptom specific (NSS) pathways for patients who present with non-specific symptoms that can indicate several cancers, as well as implementing timed cancer pathways.Since 2019, cancer alliances have been developing new dedicated urgent diagnostic pathways for these patients so that every cancer patient with concerning, but non-specific symptoms, gets the right tests at the right time in as few visits as possible. By March 2024, the NSS programme will achieve full population coverage across England for non-specific symptom pathways as set out in the 2023/24 NHS Planning Guidance.

Health Services: Gaza

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has plans to arrange for (a) medical equipment, (b) pharmaceuticals and (c) other health resources to be sent to Gaza.

Andrew Stephenson: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office leads the Government’s response to humanitarian crises. On 16 October 2023, Prime Minister announced a £10 million package of aid to provide food, water, healthcare, and shelter for those affected in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 23 October 2023, the Prime Minister announced the United Kingdom will provide a further £20 million of humanitarian aid bringing the total to £30 million. As part of this support, the Department of Health and Social Care helped to arrange for 76,800 surplus trauma kits to be sent from RAF Brize Norton to Egypt by a Ministry of Defence Aircraft on 25 October 2023.The Department of Health and Social Care will continue keep in close contact with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to understand whether it would be appropriate to provide further support in future.

Ophthalmic Services: Waiting Lists

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for ophthalmology patients following referral.

Andrew Stephenson: We are taking action to recover elective services, including for patients waiting for National Health Service ophthalmology services by working towards the targets set out in the Elective Recovery Plan and providing the NHS with record levels of staffing and funding. We are working together with NHS England to increase diagnostic capacity as quickly as possible including the continued rollout of community diagnostic centres (CDCs) in 2023. The Government has also confirmed it is now on track to meet its target to open up to 160 CDCs by March 2025, and expects to achieve this a year early in March 2024. This includes an established CDC at Whitehouse Health Centre, to which general practitioners in Bedfordshire may be able to refer patients for key diagnostic checks, tests, and scans, including ophthalmology. The funding will also be used to increase capacity for imaging and improving digital diagnostics. We are also transforming the way the NHS provides elective care by increasing activity through dedicated and protected surgical hubs, focusing on providing high volume low complexity surgery, such as ophthalmology. There are currently 95 elective surgical hubs that are operational across England as of 16 November 2023. These surgical hubs will help separate elective care facilities from urgent and emergency care. An additional £1.5 billion of capital funding has been approved to support the expansion of existing surgical hub sites as well as the creation of more hubs in all regions.

Humanitarian Aid

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government takes to determine what medical aid is made available to areas that are experiencing (a) conflict and (b) other forms of humanitarian crises.

Andrew Stephenson: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office leads the Government’s response to humanitarian crises. The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to respond to requests for medical aid, to ensure assistance is provided in line with the broader cross-government humanitarian strategy. This includes delivering against specific needs on the ground as defined by humanitarian organisations, which are often well placed to respond to crises.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Angela Richardson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department plans to take to support Universal Credit claimants who are in work with varying paydays each month affecting the benefit assessment period.

Jo Churchill: There are no plans to change the way universal credit treats earnings received in a claimant’s assessment period. As Universal Credit is paid monthly, those who are also paid their earnings monthly will normally get one payment in each assessment period. For those who are paid differently such as weekly, fortnightly, or four-weekly, the frequency of their pay will have an effect on how much Universal Credit they will receive in some assessment periods and means that for some months these claimants will receive two or more sets of earnings during one Universal Credit assessment period. This may reduce, or in some cases, end the Universal Credit award the claimant receives that month. The issue of receiving two sets of monthly earnings affects a small minority of claimants in very specific circumstances, we know that this can occur when a claimant’s monthly pay date and the last day of their assessment period are close together. In recognition of the impact that having double calendar monthly earnings in an assessment period can have on this small number of individual households, we have introduced legislation to address the issue. This legislation came into force on the 16th November 2020 and means that for cases affected by this issue monthly earnings can be reallocated to another assessment period, which means that only one set of earnings should be taken into account rather than two. I hope you find this answer helpful.

Universal Credit: Carers

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's press release entitled, Employment boost for thousands of parents on Universal Credit, published on 25 October 2023, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of new Universal Credit work conditionality requirements on family and friend carers.

Jo Churchill: On 25 October 2023, we increased the maximum hours of work-related activity that lead carers of children aged 3-12 on Universal Credit can commit to with their job centre work coach to 30 hours per week. This change applies to lead carers including family and friend carers, also known as kinship carers, although it is important to note that kinship carers who are within 12 months of having a child coming to live with them are not required to search for or be available for work. This is to allow a period of settling in to a new family arrangement. Kinship carers play a critical role in the lives of children, often in very difficult circumstances. The increase to 30 hours of work-related activity for lead carers is a maximum and we expect hours to continue to be set at a level that is achievable for the individual claimant according to their circumstances, and in discussion with their work coach. These changes are designed to support parents and carers to help them move into work or grow their earnings and provide the children in their care with the best possible start in life.

Jobcentres: Assistive Technology

Andrew Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing his Department's funding for specialist assistive technology in job centres.

Jo Churchill: As part of its commitment to make services accessible to all customers, the Department provides computers for customer use in Jobcentres which have assistive technology built into them such as screen readers and screen magnification and are managed separately from the wider DWP IT estate. The Department also provides a range of peripheral items in each Jobcentre such as alternative keyboards. Customers can also access a wide range of services which can support their needs such as braille and large print documents being made available upon request. The DWP have also improved access to our Wi-Fi services in all Jobcentres, allowing customers to use their own personal devices if they prefer.

Universal Credit: Foster Care

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's press release entitled, Employment boost for thousands of parents on Universal Credit, published on 25 October 2023, if he will consider the potential merits of applying similar conditionality requirements for family and friend carers as foster carers.

Jo Churchill: Friends and family carers, also known as kinship carers, provide incredible care to children who cannot remain with their parents. The government recognises the difficult circumstances in which many kinship carers find themselves when they first take a child into their care. As such, for the first year they are only required to attend jobcentre appointments and are not required to search or prepare for work. This allows time for adjustments to the family’s life and for the children to settle in. The policy for foster carers reflects their particular circumstances. Universal Credit does not provide claimants with financial support for any foster children in their care and only requires foster carers to attend regular appointments rather than look for work.We have recently made changes to lead carer (including kinship carer) conditionality – an increased frequency of jobcentre appointments for lead carers of 1 and 2 year olds, and an increase to the maximum hours of work-related activity for lead carers of 3-12s. Alongside this, we have increased support with childcare. These changes in conditionality and childcare availability are designed to provide support to lead carers of children, including kinship carers, to help them move into work or grow their earnings and provide the children in their care with the best possible start in life. We believe that this strikes the right balance.

Employment Schemes: West Midlands

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to develop employment support pilot programmes in the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Jo Churchill: The Trailblazer deals were developed alongside the combined authorities to help address local priorities. Full details of the WMCA deal can be found here: West Midlands Combined Authority: “Trailblazer” deeper devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Employment Schemes

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has for monitoring the effectiveness of Trailblazer employment support programmes.

Jo Churchill: The Trailblazer deals present a genuinely new and different way of approaching employment support. Therefore, we have agreed the impacts and outcomes of the trailblazer approach will be evaluated. Full details of the WMCA deal can be found here: West Midlands Combined Authority: “Trailblazer” deeper devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Employment: Older People

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question 26 on Employment: Older People, what the cost to the public purse was for midlife MOTs in each year since 2019.

Jo Churchill: In the Autumn 2021 budget, DWP secured more than £22m to deliver an enhanced 50+ offer. This included £5m to expand and improve the Midlife MOT by delivering Midlife MOTs through our network of Jobcentre Plus offices and launching a private sector pilot delivered via providers, in three areas (the North East of England; Cornwall & Devon; and East Anglia).As part of the Government’s continued commitment to support older workers, the Spring Budget 2023 set out a significant, wide-ranging package of DWP measures that represent an investment of £3.5bn over 5 years to boost workforce participation. This includes investment to support over-50s, including the expansion of the Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT and an enhanced digital Midlife MOT offer.

Access to Work Programme: Hearing Impairment

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the number and proportion of people who were unable to access support due to the annual cap on the Access to Work grant were deaf in each of the last five years.

Tom Pursglove: The information requested is not readily available. To provide it would incur a disproportionate cost.

Disability Living Allowance: Children

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number of applicants awaiting a decision and (b) average time between receipt of an application and such a decision being made under the Disability Living Allowance for children as of 17 November 2023.

Tom Pursglove: The information requested on the volume of applicants waiting for a decision, and the journey time from an application received by DWP to a decision made, is not readily available. To provide this would incur a disproportionate cost.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have received Intensive Personalised Employment Support, by local authority area, in each of the last five years.

Tom Pursglove: Statistics on Intensive Personalised Employment Support are planned for future publication and will be formally released, adhering to the Official Statistics guidance. Although MI is available internally, it is important that it remains restricted and is not shared externally prior to release of the Official Statistics. The publication of official information is a properly planned and managed process, to ensure that the data is accurate once placed into the public domain. It is in the public interest to ensure that the information is available to all members of the public at the same time, and premature publication could undermine this principle.

Work Capability Assessment

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will conduct analysis on the potential impact on NHS costs of proposed changes to the work capabilityassessment.

Tom Pursglove: The WCA activities and descriptors consultation closed on Monday 30 October and received over 1300 responses.The department does not intend to make an assessment of the potential impact on the NHS.We are committed to ensuring our welfare system encourages and supports people into work, while providing a vital safety net for those who need it most. Working can help promote recovery, lead to better health outcomes, reduce long-term incapacity, and promote participation in society.

Universal Credit: Refugees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision his Department makes for Winter Fuel Payments in cases where Ukrainian refugees receiving Universal Credit payments are not paying bills in the homes of their host families.

Paul Maynard: Winter fuel payments are an age-related payment payable this winter to all people who have reached State Pension age on or before 24 September  2023 and who are ordinarily resident in the UK, including Ukrainian refugees. There is no need to be in receipt of a social security benefit in order to qualify. Winter fuel payments are made on a household basis. If there is more than one eligible person in a household, the payment will be divided between them. The sharing of bills is a matter for the house owner and any guests they may be hosting. The Government understands the cost-of-living pressures people are currently facing which is why we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with their bills. Pensioners who are entitled to a winter fuel payment this winter will receive a pensioner Cost of Living Payment of £300 per household paid with their normal payment, meaning over 8 million pensioner households across the UK will receive an increased winter fuel payment of £500/£600 depending on age. Over 8 million UK households on eligible means tested benefits will receive additional Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £900 in the 2023/24 financial year and over 6 million individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will have received a £150 payment to help with the additional costs they face.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Pornography Review

Miriam Cates: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to appoint the Chair of the Pornography Review announced on 3 July 2023.

Miriam Cates: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to publish terms of reference for the Pornography Review announced on 3 July 2023.

Saqib Bhatti: The Government is committed to undertaking the comprehensive review of pornography regulation, legislation, and enforcement in a timely fashion.The details of the independent Lead Reviewer’s appointment and the review’s Terms of Reference will be announced in due course.

Pornography Review

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the terms of reference are for the Pornography Review announced on 3 July 2023; and which Minister has lead responsibility for that review.

Saqib Bhatti: The Government is committed to undertaking the comprehensive review of pornography regulation, legislation, and enforcement in a timely fashion.The review will be led by an independent lead reviewer and the Government will consider the eventual findings. The details of the lead reviewer and the review’s Terms of Reference will be announced in due course.

Motor Neurone Disease: Research

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support research into the causes of motor neurone disease.

Andrew Griffith: In November 2021, the Government committed to delivering at least £50 million to support motor neurone disease (MND) research over five years, as part of a package of £375 million for research into neurodegenerative diseases. In June 2023, the government announced that more than £35 million of the £50 million pledged to cutting-edge MND research has now been allocated, just two years into a five year funding commitment. Work continues at pace to support MND researchers to submit high quality bids for open funding calls. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-continues-delivering-on-50-million-funding-pledge-for-motor-neurone-disease-research)

Broadband: Rural Areas

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much and what proportion of the Project Gigabit fund has been allocated as of 15 November 2023.

Sir John Whittingdale: Up to £5 billion of funding is available through Project Gigabit, which was launched in 2021 to roll out gigabit-capable broadband to premises across the UK that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. The programme is scheduled to run until 2030. We have already made over £2 billion of funding available to suppliers through our live procurements and contracts. In addition, the Government is providing up to £210 million through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Catapult Centres: Finance

Sir Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what financial support has UK Research and Innovation given to catapults in each of the last five years.

Andrew Griffith: The UK’s nine Catapults fuel economic growth in the UK by enabling innovative businesses to turn great ideas into reality. Between April 2018 and March 2023 the Catapults received the financial support set out below from UKRI. These figures are based on committed spend and include core grant funding and additional, competitive funding won by Catapults from UKRI in collaboration with businesses. They exclude spend from other Government departments and Arms Length Bodies. Financial YearSpend2018/20192019/2020£310m£317m2020/2021£348m2021/2022£346m2022/2023£367m

Ministry of Defence

Defence Equipment: Pollution

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate the Government has made of the amount of lead pollution from (a) leaded aviation fuel use, (b) leaded petrol use, (c) tyre wear and brake wear and (d) other types of use by the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) British Army and (iii) Royal Air Force in the latest period for which data is available.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to ensure that all Defence Standards and commercial specifications adopted by the Department meet the relevant UK legislation regarding lead and sulphur content. To ensure MOD remains legislatively compliant in all respects, MOD procures products to the latest specification. The Department tracks fuel use at the user level, led by the Armed Services.

Armed Forces: Housing

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the written statement of 13 November 2023 entitled Service Family Accommodation and Winter Planning, HCWS28, what steps his Department is taking to fund damp and mould mitigation packages in all service family properties who have a damp and mould report raised.

James Cartlidge: The Department is aware that what happened last winter was not good enough. Too many homes were affected by damp and mould. That is why we have prioritised a year-long £29 million programme as part of the additional £400 million funding over the next two years announced in the Defence Command Paper Refresh 2023. This will address the underlying causes of damp and mould for around 4,000 homes, representing around 60% of all properties requiring such work. Most homes will receive a standardised package of relatively simple works including increasing insulation, replacing guttering, upgrading extractor fans, replacing radiators, and resealing windows and doors. The most severely affected homes are being tackled first, with remediation work to over 1,000 already completed. In properties where more substantial works are required, £94 million of investment this financial year has been dedicated to replacing doors and windows, upgrading heating for around 1,500 homes, improving groundwater drainage and damp-proof courses, roof repairs and/or replacement and installation of external wall insulation to make homes more energy efficient.

Defence Transition Services: Training

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training defence transition service caseworkers receive.

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training veteran welfare service staff receive.

Dr Andrew Murrison: All Defence Transition Service Case Workers and Veterans Welfare Services Welfare Managers receive role specific induction training on joining the organisation. They are also mandated to complete Civil Service Required Learning which includes safeguarding, prevent, diversity/inclusion, and data protection amongst others which must be completed at mandated intervals throughout each year.Additional role specific training provision is provided through a combination of peer support and training from external organisations for specific skills and awareness on an as required basis.

Ministry of Defence: Legal Profession

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many legally-qualified staff working for his Department as of November 2023 (a) have received training in and (b) are qualified specifically in procurement law.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence has of 14 November 2023 86 civilians employed as lawyers or intellectual property-qualified professionals and 211 military lawyers - inclusive of 26 Reservists - serving as members of the three Services' legal branches/capbadge who are qualified as lawyers.The Ministry of Defence does no hold specific records have received training in and/or are qualified specifically in procurement law. This as the majority of our civilian lawyers assigned/on-loan from other government departments, principally the Government Legal Department, and their records are held by their employing department or are employed directly by the Ministry of Defence on the basis of them being intellectual property-qualified professionals.There are other staff within the Ministry of Defence who hold academic/professional legal qualifications but are not employed in roles where holding such a qualification is a direct requirement of their appointment/duties and are not, therefore, considered members of its Legal function.

Ministry of Defence: Legal Profession

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many legally-qualified staff are employed by his Department as of 14 November 2023.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence has of 14 November 2023 86 civilians employed as lawyers or intellectual property-qualified professionals and 211 lawyers - inclusive of 26 Reservists - serving as members of the three Services' legal branches/capbadge who are qualified as lawyers. There are other staff within the Ministry of Defence who hold academic/professional legal qualifications but are not employed in roles where holding such a qualification is a direct requirement of their appointment/duties and are not, therefore, considered members of its Legal function.

Ministry of Defence: Legal Profession

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many lawyers are employed by his Department as of 14 November 2023.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence has of 14 November 2023 86 civilians employed as lawyers or intellectual property-qualified professionals and 211 military lawyers - inclusive of 26 Reservists - serving as members of the three Services' legal branches/capbadge.The civilian total includes only 24 employees who are directly employed by the Ministry of Defence as either Patent Officers or as prosecutors with the Service Prosecution Authority; the other 62 are assigned/on-load from other Government Departments, principally the Government Legal Department, with whom they remain active employees.

Ministry of Defence: Legal Opinion

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost to the public purse of advice provided by legal counsel to his Department in each year since 2010; and which (a) firms and (b) chambers have provided such advice in each of those years.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence does not hold the information over such a timeframe in a readily accessed format and therefore it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: Administration

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel principally support administrative tasks in his Department.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: Policy

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel work on policy development in his Department.

Dr Andrew Murrison: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 October 2023 to Question 203999. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-10-24/203999 Ministry of Defence: Staff (docx, 23.9KB)

Ministry of Defence: Accountancy

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel support accountancy tasks in his Department.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Government Finance Function has developed a finance career framework for civilian personnel. Within the Career Framework, there is set taxonomy that states which roles require a professional finance qualification. Within the Civilian finance workforce, at 30th September 23, there are 231 civilians working in roles that require the Level 7 finance qualification, and a further 2462 civilians working in roles where the Finance qualification (Level 4 and Level 7) is recommended. Military data is not collated centrally and therefore additional time is required to collate, and validate, this information from the Single Services. I will write to the right hon. Member shortly.

Ministry of Defence: Accountancy

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel support financial work in his Department.

Dr Andrew Murrison: At 30 September 23, there were 2,942 civilian personnel working in finance roles in the Ministry of Defence. The Civilian Finance workforce data is extracted, from the Civilian HR system, and analysed on a quarterly basis. Military data is not collated centrally and therefore additional time is required to collate, and validate, this information from the Single Services. I will write to the right hon. Member shortly.

Ploughshare: Finance

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial returns Ploughshare has delivered in each of the last five years; and what financial performance targets have been set for Ploughshare in each of the next three years.

James Cartlidge: Ploughshare Innovations Ltd (04401901) is a Private Limited Company, therefore Ploughshare's accounts are published annually on the Companies House website;[https://findandupdate.companyinformation.service.gov.uk/company/04401901/filing-history].

Ministry of Defence: Public Expenditure

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what efficiency targets he has set for the top level budget areas in his Department for each of the next three years.

James Cartlidge: The Department has a well-established and ambitious efficiency programme to ensure it protects key elements of its output. Each Top-Level Budget (TLB) area has an efficiency target that they are delivering as part of their overall budget settlement, set out below:   TLB Efficiencies (£million)2024-252025-262026-27Total over next three yearsArmy5968388532,287Air4384024071,247Navy4774174471,341UK Strat Com5845405311,656DNO270324254847DIO21212365DE&S0000Head Office21202365Strategic Programmes188161117466Total2,5952,7242,6567,975

Ministry of Defence: Assets

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 20 September 2023 to Question 199262 on Ministry of Defence: Assets, if he will take steps to require asset sales to be reported to his Department's Director General Finance.

James Cartlidge: The proceeds from the sale of property, plant, equipment, and intangible assets are reported in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts (ARAc,) which the DG Finance reviews prior to publication, and is reviewed as part of the In-Year financial management reporting processes.

Australia and USA: Defence

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) collaborative projects and (b) joint ventures with (i) Australian and (ii) US defence companies on the (A) defence sector and (B) economy.

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to provide infrastructure to help ensure that businesses can participate in (a) investment, (b) joint ventures and (c) projects under the AUKUS framework.

James Cartlidge: AUKUS provides a generational opportunity to enhance our collaborative relationship and collective national security, as well as better supporting how our industrial bases work together for the future. Progress continues to be made to ensure that businesses can participate in investment opportunities attached to AUKUS. To truly realise the benefits of the AUKUS partnership and the generational opportunity it presents, it is critical we break down existing and future barriers to collaboration. Modernising export controls will empower our government and industries to work together at the pace of relevance, accessing the best technologies and enhancing our mutual capabilities; ultimately to ensure our long-term collective security.

AUKUS: Vacancies

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of potential changes in the level of job vacancies in the defence sector as a direct result of the AUKUS partnership.

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution of the AUKUS defence partnership to R&D in the defence technology industry; and what steps he is taking to support innovation by UK companies.

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the AUKUS defence agreement on other sectors of the economy.

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help support the defence industry to participate in trade arising from the AUKUS agreement.

James Cartlidge: In the two years following the AUKUS announcement, the UK continues to make good progress in working collaboratively with our UK defence industry to facilitate future opportunities attached to the AUKUS partnership including, but not exclusive, to: trade, R&D, and defence innovation.Innovation continues to be a priority across Defence, with a well-established innovation system - supported through the Defence Innovation Fund - spanning various areas of the Department. Through AUKUS, the UK is also seeking to ensure that defence and technology trade and exports are as frictionless as possible between AUKUS partner nations. Export control reform is key to removing the layers of red tape impeding collaboration between our defence industry and governments.Progress continues to be made to ensure that businesses can participate in investment opportunities attached to AUKUS. UK businesses are behind the design and manufacture of the world's most advanced submarines. As a decades-long programme, AUKUS will create thousands of jobs and wider opportunities across different sectors of the economy. In the short-term, this endeavour will almost double the size of the UK's (Raynesway) site, creating 1,170 high-skilled jobs in Derby, alongside thousands of job vacancies across the UK in the defence sector and the wider economy, supporting the Prime Minister's commitment to levelling up.

Ministry of Defence: Disclosure of Information

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether classified documents retained by his department under a Lord Chancellor’s Instruction citing a national security exemption are among the files available to be searched when his Department receives a Data Subject Access Request which may include personal data held within it.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether classified documents retained by his Department under a Lord Chancellor’s Instruction citing a national security exemption are among the files available to be searched when his Department receives a Freedom of Information request which may include personal data held within it.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether classified documents retained by his Department under a Lord Chancellor’s Instruction citing a national security exemption are among the files available to be searched when his Department receives a question to the Secretary of State or other Minister in the Department.

James Cartlidge: All classified documents that have been retained by the Ministry of Defence under the national security exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 2018 are available to be searched on receipt of Data Subject Access Requests, Freedom of Information Requests and questions to the Secretary of State or other Ministers in the Department. If, after location and review of the classified documents, it is deemed that release of any/all of the information would still prejudice national security, then it may continue to be withheld by law.

Ajax Vehicles: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on external legal counsel on the Ajax programme in each year between 2010 and 2023; and with which legal firms.

James Cartlidge: The total spend on legal counsel between 2010, when the previous Government signed the contract[CJSA(SAS1] and 2023 is outlined in the below table: Financial Year(FY)GLD Slaughter & MayTotalFY2020-21£ 8,351 £ 8,351 FY2021-22£ 215,336 £ 215,336 FY2022-23£ 617,004£ 110,073 £ 727,077 FY2023-24£ 32,998 £ 32,998 Total  £ 873,689  £ 110,073  £ 983,762

Veterans: Finance

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) funding provided by his Department to the Veterans Welfare Service and (b) support provided by that service to service leavers.

Dr Andrew Murrison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 21 November 2023 to Question 2225.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Release: Employment

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will set a target for the number and proportion of people moving into employment within (a) one and (b) six months of leaving prison.

Edward Argar: Employment reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points. Therefore, it is a priority for this government to increase the proportion of prison leavers in employment on release. We collect data on the proportion of prison leavers who are employed at six weeks and six months after release from prison.The proportion of prison leavers in employment six months after their release has more than doubled in the two years to March 2023, from 14% to over 30%. Meanwhile, the proportion who were in employment six weeks after their release almost doubled in the same period, from 9.8% to 19.4%: Employment Rates following Release from Custody - Ad Hoc - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).While the Government seeks to continue this excellent progress, we are not pursuing a specific target at this time.

Probate: Applications

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce backlogs of probate applications.

Mike Freer: The probate service received record levels of applications during 2022 and this has continued to grow with higher levels of receipts during January to June 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.HMCTS has significantly increased staffing levels in Probate over the past year to help process applications faster. The training and upskilling of those new and existing staff have led to applications taking longer in the short term.HMCTS has streamlined internal processes to cut down on administrative delay and reduce processing times. We are continuing to invest in improving digital systems and online filing capabilities so users can track progress more easily.Average waiting times for probate grants are routinely published on gov.uk via Family Court Statistics Quarterly and currently cover the period up to June 2023.

Cemeteries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will have discussions with the organisers of the Letters to Heaven project launched in Derry and Strabane cemeteries on the potential merits of expanding that project (a) nationally and (b) in Romford constituency.

Mike Freer: The Government is responsible for law and policy relating to burial in England and Wales only. It does not have day-to-day operational responsibility for burial grounds, which is matter for local authority and private burial authorities.I understand this initiative has been implemented in Derry and Strabane by the local authority and has previously been taken up in other parts of the UK. It would be a matter for individual burial authorities to decide whether they wish to implement the scheme.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding was allocated per police force for the use of police cells under Operation Safeguard in (a) October and (b) November 2023.

Edward Argar: Operation Safeguard is a contingency measure that provides additional headroom for use if prisoners cannot be accepted from the courts or police custody. It is a temporary measure to provide a short-term solution. When Operation Safeguard is active, tactical and operational governance reviews take place at regular intervals, as agreed with police partners.There are no additional costs to the taxpayer and any spend under Operation Safeguard comes from within existing departmental budgets. Every aspect of Operation Safeguard – including compensation for cells – is based on agreements between HMPPS, the police and the Home Office. Spend is recorded on a cost-recovery basis.Operation Safeguard costs during October 2023, the breakdown by police force is shown below (a):Operation Safeguard costs to 14 November 2023 are estimated by police force shown below (b). Cells were de-activated on this date.a)ForceTOTALAvon and Somerset Constabulary£ 107,128Bedfordshire Police£ 108,094Cambridgeshire Constabulary£ 152,883Cheshire Constabulary£ 267,820City Of London Police£ 55,061Cleveland Police£ 93,267Cumbria Constabulary£ 61,391Derbyshire Constabulary£ 190,023Devon & Cornwall Police£ -Dorset Police£ -Durham Constabulary£ -Dyfed-Powys Police£ 142,837Essex Police£ 173,560Gloucestershire Constabulary£ 122,782Greater Manchester Police£ 257,882Gwent Police£ -Hampshire Constabulary£ -Hertfordshire Constabulary£ 90,674Humberside Police£ 122,782Kent Police£ 630,050Lancashire Constabulary£ 137,832Leicestershire Police£ -Lincolnshire Police£ -Merseyside Police£ -Metropolitan Police Service£ 712,197Norfolk Constabulary£ 204,637North Wales Police£ 113,019North Yorkshire Police£ 122,782Northamptonshire Police£ 204,637Northumbria Police£ 387,621Nottinghamshire Police£ 286,491South Wales Police£ 153,143South Yorkshire Police£ 150,469Staffordshire Police£ 204,637Suffolk Constabulary£ -Surrey Police£ 251,717Sussex Police£ 207,578Thames Valley Police£ 214,366Warwickshire Police£ 142,837West Mercia Police£ 245,564West Midlands Police£ 1,378,693West Yorkshire Police£ 215,589Wiltshire Police£ -Central Silver Team£ 35,516TOTAL£ 7,945,556 b)ForceNovemberAvon and Somerset Constabulary£ 3,621Bedfordshire Police£ 43,748Cambridgeshire Constabulary£ 69,005Cheshire Constabulary£ 129,384City Of London Police£ 27,530Cleveland Police£ 43,128Cumbria Constabulary£ 25,877Derbyshire Constabulary£ 52,393Devon & Cornwall Police£ -Dorset Police£ -Durham Constabulary£ -Dyfed-Powys Police£ 46,571Essex Police£ 59,672Gloucestershire Constabulary£ 51,754Greater Manchester Police£ 129,384Gwent Police£ -Hampshire Constabulary£ -Hertfordshire Constabulary£ 44,209Humberside Police£ 51,754Kent Police£ 251,971Lancashire Constabulary£ 60,379Leicestershire Police£ -Lincolnshire Police£ -Merseyside Police£ -Metropolitan Police Service£ 275,303Norfolk Constabulary£ 72,235North Wales Police£ 43,128North Yorkshire Police£ 51,754Northamptonshire Police£ 58,214Northumbria Police£ 158,491Nottinghamshire Police£ 120,759South Wales Police£ 69,005South Yorkshire Police£ 69,005Staffordshire Police£ 72,235Suffolk Constabulary£ -Surrey Police£ 94,603Sussex Police£ 70,429Thames Valley Police£ 94,968Warwickshire Police£ 46,571West Mercia Police£ 81,074West Midlands Police£ 480,409West Yorkshire Police£ 58,214Wiltshire Police£ -Central Silver Team£ -TOTAL£ 3,006,776

Home Office

Overseas Students: India

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on including student visas for Indian nationals in a future free trade agreement with India.

Robert Jenrick: It is not government policy to comment on live negotiations. Trade and immigration are separate policy areas. Any trade agreement we conclude with other countries must be consistent with the UK’s points-based immigration system and the government’s commitment to bring down net migration to sustainable levels.

Asylum: Bilateral Aid

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership, whether his Department has held recent negotiations on a similar deal with other countries.

Robert Jenrick: We are unable to comment on discussions or negotiations that may be being held with other countries at this time.

Refugees: Homelessness

Tahir Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to reduce homelessness among refugees.

Robert Jenrick: The UK Government’s ‘Ending Rough Sleeping for Good’ Strategy was revised and published in September 2022. Under this strategy the Home Office is committed to preventing rough sleeping wherever possible and where it cannot be prevented, ensuring it is a rare, brief and non-recurring experience.We are working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on ensuring individuals can move on from asylum support as smoothly as possible. With DLUHC, we are working to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures. Our accommodation providers are also directly working with local authorities to notify them when an individual is due to have their asylum support ended.

Asylum: Applications

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 18 October 2022 to Question 202261 on Asylum: Applications, if he will make it his policy to routinely publish data on the attrition rate of (a) asylum application decision makers and (b) national referral mechanism case workers.

Robert Jenrick: Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, as well as quality and availability of data.

Asylum: Housing

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 12 September 2023 to Question 198095 on Asylum: Housing, what progress his Department has made on assessing the potential impact of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 on Official Development Assistance spending.

Robert Jenrick: All ODA spending will be in line with the OECD DAC rules relevant to in-donor refugee costs and we will report our spending in the usual way.

Asylum: Housing

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to provide long term accommodation for asylum seekers housed at the Holiday Inn in Woolston.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office has always been clear that use of hotels as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers was a short-term measure to ensure that we met our statutory obligation to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute during a period of unprecedented numbers of small boat arrivals.As a result of the range of measures we have implemented to stop the boats, reform the management of asylum accommodation estate and the delivery of alternative forms of accommodation sites, we are now able to stop the procurement of new asylum hotels and begin the first phase of hotel exits. This will involve more than 50 hotels being exited as asylum accommodation by end of January 2024.As we exit hotels, we will continue to demand that local authorities deliver on their mandated commitments to their regional dispersal plans. Dispersal accommodation is cheaper to the taxpayer and more manageable for communities. We will also continue to deliver the ramp up of the Bibby Stockholm and our large disused military sites as accommodation to ensure we can reduce reliance on hotel accommodation.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many irregular migrants have (a) arrived in small boats and (b) been deported since 2018.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office publishes statistics on small boat arrivals to the UK in the ‘Irregular migration to the UK statistics’ release. Data on small boat arrivals by year is published in table Irr_D01 of the ‘Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets’ with the latest data up to the end of June 2023.The Home Office also publishes statistics on the number of returns from the UK in table Ret_D01 of the ‘Returns detailed datasets’, as part of the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. However, this data includes all returns, not just returns of small boat arrivals.Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, as well as quality and availability of data.

Cars: Theft

Tahir Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support the West Midlands Police to prevent car theft in Birmingham.

Chris Philp: The Government is committed to tackling vehicle crime.The Criminal Justice Bill, introduced to Parliament on 14 November, proposes new offences to possess, import, make, adapt, supply or offer to supply an electronic device for use in vehicle theft. This proposed new legislation will make it easier for police to prevent and tackle the theft of vehicles.The Home Office is working closely with police and motor manufacturers through the National Vehicle Crime Working Group, chaired by ACC Jennifer Sims, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, to take forward a programme of work to prevent and reduce vehicle crime nationally. This includes training police officers on methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles and working with industry to prevent theft. West Midlands Police is represented on the Working Group.A network of vehicle crime leads has been established in every police force in England and Wales, ensuring forces share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and are better able to tackle regional issues.The Government is pleased to be able to say that through our successful uplift programme, we recruited over 20,000 additional officers and have a record number of officers across forces in England and Wales. 1966 officers have been allocated to West Midlands Police.

Merseyside Police: Recruitment

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many additional police officers Merseyside Police has recruited since the the Police Uplift Programme was announced in July 2019.

Chris Philp: During the Police Uplift Programme, the Home Office published data on the number of police officers in post and police officer recruits in England and Wales in the 'Police Officer Uplift’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-officer-uplift-statistics.Table U2 of the data tables accompanying the final ‘Police Officer Uplift’ release, covering the position as at 31 March 2023, provides a breakdown of additional officers recruited through the Police Uplift Programme by month since October 2019. These data can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1171838/police-officer-uplift-final-position-as-at-march-2023-tables-260723.ods. Data are provided on a headcount basis and broken down by Police Force Area.As at 31 March 2023, Merseyside Police have recruited 724 additional police officers attributable to the Police Uplift Programme. This is against an allocation to recruit 665 additional police officers for the three-year programme.

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate he has made of when (a) the hiring process for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will be completed and (b) the names of the newly-appointed council members will be announced.

Chris Philp: The process to recruit members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), is made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.Governance Code for Public Appointments - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Based on current timescales, we expect the process will be concluded in the New Year, and subsequently the names of the new ACMD members will be announced on Gov.UK.

Animal Experiments: Cosmetics

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the written statement entitled Regulation Update of 17 May 2023, HCWS779, what recent progress his Department has made on administering the ban on animal testing for chemicals used as cosmetic ingredients over the long-term.

Tom Tugendhat: The Home Secretary’s written statement of 17 May 2023 announced a ban on new licences for animal testing of chemicals used exclusively as cosmetics ingredients, carried out under chemicals (REACH) regulations for the purpose of worker and environmental safety.The Home Office has reviewed existing ‘legacy’ licences and engaged with the relevant companies. I can confirm that no animal testing is now authorised in Great Britain of chemicals that are exclusively intended to be used as ingredients in cosmetics products.The Home Office is working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs, to review the effective administration of the ban over the longer term. This will have due regard to the needs of the science industry, the need to ensure worker and environmental safety, and the need to protect animals from unnecessary harm.

Asylum

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 202265 on Asylum, if he will make heat maps on the geographical distribution of asylum seekers available to hon. Members.

Robert Jenrick: Heatmaps are shared with Local Authorities to provide an indication of the number of decisions and therefore cessations that could flow through down to LA level because of the increase in decisions made this year.  The data only provides a snapshot in time and is heavily caveated as it is taken from live sources and therefore has not been assured to the level that published data has been and as such there are no plans to share with honourable Members.

Department for Education

Teachers: Religion

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to increase the availability of Religious Education teacher training courses.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to ensure a high standard of primary religious education training in (a) Initial Teacher Training and (b) early career teacher induction.

Damian Hinds: Religious education (RE) is an essential part of a school’s curriculum and remains a compulsory subject in all state funded schools, including academies, to all pupils up to the age of 18. RE develops an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society, as well as serving to inform their own values and behaviour.The department is offering a £10,000 bursary for RE trainee teachers starting Initial Teacher Training courses in the 2024/25 academic year. The department has published this information on the ‘Get Into Teaching’ website and will be marketing the offer to prospective teachers through other channels.The mandatory Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF) sets out a core minimum entitlement for all trainees of what should be covered during their teacher training. While all ITT courses must encompass the CCF in full, it remains for accredited ITT providers to design their full course curricula in a way that is appropriate to the needs of trainees and for the subject, phase, and age range that the trainees will be teaching, which for some ITT courses, would include religious education training.To be awarded Qualified Teacher Status, trainee teachers must demonstrate that they satisfy all of the Teaching Standards at the appropriate level, including Part Two of the standards, which requires all teachers to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional behaviour.The department has publicly committed to reviewing the ITT CCF and Early Career Framework (ECF) alongside each other. Building on lessons learned from the first few years of CCF implementation and ECF delivery, the department plans to revise the CCF and ECF into a more closely combined framework, or set of frameworks, which cover the first three years or more at the start of a teacher’s career articulating what trainee and new teachers need to know and need to know how to do.This underpins a joined-up sequence of training and development over at least the first three years of new teachers’ careers to support them at the start of their new career. The department aims to ensure that what new teachers learn across these early years of their career delivers continuous, coherent and complementary learning for all trainees and new teachers, and provides the confidence and skills for a lifelong career in teaching.

Free School Meals

Sir Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of extending the eligibility for free school meals on (a) the economy, (b) public health and (c) educational attainment.

Sir Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending universal free school meals across England.

Damian Hinds: The provision of Free School Meals (FSM) to pupils from households who are on low income or out of work is important to the government. Over two million pupils are currently eligible for benefits based FSM. Close to 1.3 million additional infants receive free and nutritious meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meals policy.The department does not have plans to change the current eligibility conditions for FSM, nor any plans to extend universal provision, but will continue to keep eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who need them most. The department has set a threshold which enables more pupils to benefit, whilst remaining affordable and deliverable for the schools.The department continues to work with other government departments to monitor the consequences of the rising cost of living and the impact on families.

Schools: Buildings

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether specialist contractors have been appointed to carry out invasive structural assessment of system-built blocks approved in September 2022; and if she will make a statement.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools will take part in the invasive structural assessment of system-built blocks approved in September 2022; and if she will make a statement.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of schools that will have completed the system-built block assessment by the end of 2023.

Damian Hinds: The department is working with the sector to establish a research study of several system-built frame types to identify potential future issues.The department is working with schools, responsible bodies, and potential contractors to enable these assessments to be carried out at 100 schools with a minimum of disruption and to provide research that will be widely applicable.In establishing this research project the department considered the implications of disturbing hazardous materials, including asbestos. The department is taking time to ensure that safety measures are in place to continue to keep all students, staff, and the general public safe during these investigations, which has delayed the procurement timetable slightly.The department expects that procurement will take place over the coming months and that the majority of the initial assessments will be undertaken over the easter and summer holiday periods of the 2023/24 academic year.

Social Services: Tameside

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to monitor the adequacy of Tameside Children's services in each of the last three years.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assistance officials in her Department have provided to Tameside Children's Services in each of the last three years.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has been involved in capacity building for the leadership and management of Tameside Children's Services.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with Ofsted on Tameside Children’s Services.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's interventions to improve Tameside Children's Services.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to monitor the effectiveness of her Department's improvement processes at Tameside Children’s Services.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with Tameside Children's Services on a target date for obtaining a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on improving Tameside Children’s Services since June 2022.

David Johnston: The adequacy of a local authorities children’s social care is officially assessed by Ofsted’s inspecting local authority children’s services (ILACS) framework. Children’s social care services in Tameside were judged as Requires Improvement in the 2019 ILACS inspection, which was an improvement from the inspection in 2016 where services were found to be Inadequate. Focused Visits were carried out by Ofsted in May 2021 and April 2022 to monitor services, as per Ofsted’s inspection framework. The Focused Visit in April 2022 identified two Areas of Priority Action (APAs).Following this, in line with the department’s early intervention policy, the department placed Tameside into intervention and issued an Improvement Notice. The department has continued to work closely with Tameside, carrying out formal 6 monthly reviews and tailoring effective support to target the APAs. An Improvement Adviser is in place to provide ongoing support and challenge to the service including early support to the Council in establishing an Improvement Board to provide the mechanism for corporate and political leadership to scrutinise and challenge the improvement journey.In addition, the department has provided Tameside with targeted improvement funding and brokered support from Sector Led Improvement Partners as well as co-ordinating the Local Government Association to provide a package of leadership support for the senior leadership team and wider Council, including politicians.The priority for the department’s intervention has been to oversee progress of the two APAs identified in Ofsted’s 2022 Focused Visit. Progress of improvement has relied on stability of senior leadership and capacity within the Council. The imminent Ofsted ILACS inspection will result in a graded judgement for Tameside’s children’s services and will clearly set out what is working well and where further improvements can be made, including what further steps are needed to achieve Good or Outstanding, if appropriate. The inspection will also determine the effectiveness of the Council’s response to the department’s intervention and support.The department continues to monitor progress and provide support via the intervention policy and regular interactions with the Council. Should assessments indicate the Council is making insufficient progress, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, may choose to invoke her statutory powers of intervention (under s497A of the Education Act 1996) by issuing a Statutory Direction.

Special Educational Needs: Inspections

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of schools that received an Ofsted inspection in 2023 and did not receive a grade of outstanding as a result of judgments on their SEND provision.

David Johnston: There is no central record of whether Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision alone is the cause of a school not receiving an outstanding overall effectiveness judgement.Ofsted has confirmed that individual inspection reports will always provide detail on a school’s SEND provision, including strengths and weaknesses. Provision for pupils with SEND is looked at across all of Ofsted’s key judgements and through its safeguarding assessment, as set out in the school inspection handbook. In assessing the quality of a school’s education, inspectors will consider a number of factors, including; how well the school identifies, assesses and meets the needs of pupils with SEND; whether leaders are suitably ambitious for all pupils with SEND; whether the curriculum is coherently sequenced to meet all pupil’s needs starting points and aspirations; as well as how well pupils with SEND are prepared for their next steps in education, employment and training and their adult lives.Where schools are falling short in their provision for pupils with SEND, Ofsted judgements will reflect this.

Children: Hate Crime

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the prevalence of verbal abuse of children by adults.

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of recording verbal abuse of children by adults as its own maltreatment subgroup.

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of verbal abuse of children by adults on children's (a) mental health and (b) long-term educational outcomes.

David Johnston: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Protection from abuse and neglect is a fundamental right for all children. The government’s priority for all vulnerable children is to keep them safe, protect their welfare and put their best interests at the heart of every decision. It is about supporting and intervening with the right families, at the right time, and, most importantly, in the right way.In the department’s 'Children in need’ statistics release, we publish data on factors identified at the end of an assessment. Currently, verbal abuse is not defined but would fall into emotional abuse. For that reason, the department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of verbal abuse on children, but it is the government’s priority to ensure all children are protected and safe from harm, and we have an ambitious programme of reform to children’s social care underway. The latest statistics release is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need.On 2 February 2023, the department published ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’, an implementation strategy and consultation which sets out our plans to transform children’s social care, in response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, the national review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, and the Competition Markets Authority report.The department’s strategy focuses on six pillars of action to transform children’s social care, including to help families overcome challenges at the earliest stage, keep children safe from significant harm, and make sure children in care have stable, loving homes, long-term loving relationships, and opportunities for a good life.Over the next two years, the department will address urgent issues and lay the foundations for wider-reaching reform across the whole system, which will have an impact for those children experiencing abuse, including verbal abuse.Furthermore, the statutory guidance, ‘Working together to safeguard children’ (2018), is clear that, if at any time it is considered that a child may be a child in need or has suffered significant harm or is likely to do so, a referral should be made immediately to a local authority’s children social care service.In terms of supporting children’s mental health, the department has committed to offer all state schools and colleges a grant to train a senior mental health lead by 2025, enabling them to introduce effective, whole school approaches to mental health and wellbeing. More than 14,000 schools and colleges have now received a senior mental health lead training grant, including more than 7 in 10 state-funded secondary schools.Intervening early is critical. To expand access to early mental health support, the department is continuing to roll out Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) to schools and colleges. As of April 2023, MHSTs covered 35% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England. We are extending coverage of MHSTs to an estimated 44% of pupils and learners by the end of this financial year and at least 50% by the end of March 2025.

Special Educational Needs: Waiting Lists

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for Education, Health and Care plan assessments in (a) North West Leicestershire constituency and (b) the UK.

David Johnston: The department has invested £1 million through the ‘Delivering Better Value’ programme to support the ‘Transforming SEND and Inclusion in Leicestershire’ programme, which aims to improve how the Leicestershire Area Partnership (LAP) supports children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. Following the Ofsted inspection published in January 2023, the LAP was required to produce an Accelerated Progress Plan to address systemic weaknesses in the quality of their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. The department monitors progress against this plan at regular intervals. In addition, the department has commissioned specific support and challenge for the LAP, targeted at improving both the timeliness and quality of EHC plan assessments.Within the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, the department has set out its proposals for EHC plan reform. The department has co-produced an EHC plan template and supporting guidance, which will shortly be piloted in the Change Programme for local authorities, which, alongside the other measures described in the Improvement Plan, will help create a nationally consistent EHC plan process which makes greater use of digital technology, with the aim to improve the quality, consistency and experience of getting EHC plans.

Teachers: British Nationals Abroad

Tahir Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an estimate of how many newly qualified teachers work abroad because of (a) pay and (b) working conditions.

Damian Hinds: The department does not collect data on teachers teaching outside England.One of the department’s top priorities is to ensure that we continue to attract, retain and develop the highly skilled teachers we need to inspire the next generation.On 13 July 2023, the department announced that we are accepting the School Teachers Review Body’s (STRB) recommendations for the 2023/24 pay award for teachers and headteachers. This means that teachers and leaders in maintained schools received the highest pay award in over thirty years and it delivers our manifesto commitment of at least a £30,000 starting salary for school teachers in all regions of the country.The department has created an entitlement to at least three years of structured training, support and professional development for all new teachers underpinned by the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Core Content Framework and the Early Career Framework Together, these ensure that new teachers will benefit from at least three years of evidence-based training, across ITT and into their induction.The department has also launched a new and updated suite of National Professional Qualifications for teachers and headteachers at all levels, from those who want to develop expertise in high-quality teaching practice to those leading multiple schools across trusts.There are now over 468,000 full time equivalent (FTE) teachers in state funded schools in England, which is an increase of 27,000 (6%) since 2010. This makes it the highest FTE of teachers since the School Workforce Census began in 2010.The department’s reforms are aimed not only at increasing teacher recruitment through an attractive pay offer and financial incentives such as bursaries, but also at ensuring teachers stay and thrive in the profession.

Relationships and Sex Education

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of how resources can best be allocated to provide comprehensive sexual health education in schools.

Damian Hinds: Schools are free to determine how they use their funding in support of subjects, including RSHE training for teachers.The department expects schools to consult with parents on what they teach. Schools should ensure that, when they engage parents, they provide examples of the resources they plan to use, for example the books they will use in lessons.In light of concerning reports about the use of inappropriate materials used to teach the RSHE curriculum, the Secretary of State has twice written to schools to make clear that schools should share resources with parents and clarify the position about how copyright law applies when schools share resources with parents. Copies of both letters can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/secretary-of-state-letter-to-schools-about-sharing-curriculum-resources-with-parents.The department has been reviewing the RSHE guidance and aims to launch a public consultation by the end of this year. The department anticipates that the revised guidance, including content on sexual health education, will be published in 2024.

Curriculum: Disclosure of Information

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that parents have access to the materials used to teach their children (a) relationships, sex and health education, (b) religious education and (c) other subjects in the curriculum.

Damian Hinds: All schools have a duty to share information concerning their curriculum with parents, including Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and Religious Education (RE). The department has been very clear that schools should respond positively where parents request to see specific materials.The Secretary of State wrote to schools again on Tuesday 24 October to clarify schools’ legal position and to make it clear that they can and should share RSHE curriculum materials with parents. Copyright restrictions under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act do not prevent schools from doing this. Schools can lawfully share copies of resources with parents and any contract clauses that seek to prevent schools from doing this are void and unenforceable. This is because they contradict the public policy interest in ensuring parents know what their children are being taught. The department is aware that some parents have particular concerns regarding materials used to teach RSHE.As part of the review of the RSHE statutory guidance, the department will strengthen the guidance, in line with the Secretary of State’s letters, to help schools to share materials with parents.It will remain important that schools take full responsibility for ensuring lessons and materials are age appropriate, suitable, and politically impartial, particularly when using materials produced by external organisations.Schools may choose to use curriculum materials developed by Oak, an Arm’s Length Body, working independently of government and collaboratively with the education sector. Oak works with teachers across the country, providing them and their pupils with free, optional, and adaptable high quality digital curriculum resources. Their current resources are available at: https://www.thenational.academy/#teachers. Oak is now developing new resources for eight more subject areas including for RSHE and RE.Schedule 4 Paragraph 7(a) of the School Information Regulations (England) 2008/3093 requires all maintained schools to publish their school curriculum on their website. The guidance for this is outlined online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-maintained-schools-must-publish-online. All academies must follow a similar process for their school curriculum. The guidance for this is outlined online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-academies-free-schools-and-colleges-should-publish-online.If a parent feels that a maintained school is failing to comply with its legal requirements relating to the provision of the curriculum, or that a school is acting unreasonably in the way it complies with them, they can make a formal complaint to the governing body by following the school’s statutory complaints procedures.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Cultural Heritage: Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to promote the cultural heritage of the Irish diaspora in England in (a) general and (b) Romford constituency.

Sir John Whittingdale: His Majesty’s Government has supported a number of projects looking at the cultural heritage of the Irish diaspora through its arm’s-length bodies.Arts Council England supported the Irish Arts Foundation on its 'Exploring the musical traditions of County Cork & County Kerry' project in Leeds, providing over £20,000 of public funding in 2021/22. In 2022/23, The National Lottery Community Fund provided £7,950 of funding to Leeds Irish Arts Foundation’s ‘Neighbours!’ project, to help engage people from around West Yorkshire in Irish music and workshops to celebrate Irish culture, music and arts. In 2023/24, The National Lottery Community Fund provided £6,421 of funding to Cú Chulainn’s to deliver a family funday to bring young people and families from the local Irish community and the community more broadly together.Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded almost £3 million to projects which have explored the history of the Irish diaspora in England, covering themes such as the World Wars, aspects of culture shared with others, and the experiences of those who have built their lives here in the UK. ‘Look Back to Look Forward: 50 Years of the Irish in Britain’ is an ambitious heritage project which captures the history of the Irish in Britain’s membership organisations and the communities they serve, and is currently touring. This exhibition was made possible with a £250,000 Lottery grant.

Theatre: Government Assistance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to support the theatre industry (a) nationally and (b) in Romford constituency.

Sir John Whittingdale: Theatre is the artform that receives the most public funding via Arts Council England, and there are now more theatre organisations in its National Portfolio than ever before. In 2023–24, Arts Council England is investing over £140 million in 194 theatre organisations, including 47 new theatre organisations joining the portfolio this year. The Arts Council will be investing £31,000 in theatre organisations in Romford in 2023–24.In addition, theatres and orchestras will continue to benefit from the extension by His Majesty’s Government of the higher rates of tax relief for a further two years, as announced at Spring Budget 2023.

Armed Conflict: Gaza

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the BBC Board on the adequacy of the BBC News coverage of the conflict in Gaza.

Sir John Whittingdale: The BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. That is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive events. The BBC’s accuracy and impartiality is critical to viewer trust.The events in Israel since 7 October are terrorist acts committed by a terrorist organisation, proscribed in the United Kingdom since 2021 and designated as such by many other governments and international organisations.The BBC is editorially and operationally independent and decisions around its editorial policies and guidelines are therefore a matter for the BBC.However, calling these acts what they are, and accurately labelling the perpetrators, helps audiences to understand what has happened, is happening and its context.That is why the Secretary of State has communicated with the BBC, and with the public, her disappointment that the BBC has refused to describe Hamas as terrorists, or the atrocities it has carried out as terrorism. The Secretary of State made that point to the BBC on multiple occasions since the terrorist attacks on 7 October.As the external independent regulator of the BBC, Ofcom is responsible for ensuring BBC coverage is duly impartial and accurate under the Broadcasting Code and BBC Charter. Ofcom has been clear that responsibility lies with the BBC to decide the vocabulary it uses to describe unfolding events. The Broadcasting Code does not prevent broadcasters referring to terrorist organisations, nor does it prevent them referring to Hamas as terrorists.

Treasury

Sanctions: Russia

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many violations there have been of sanctions placed on Russia; and what the value is of fines issued for those violations.

Gareth Davies: The Government has imposed a wide range of sanctions measures against Russia, including finance, trade and transport. The UK has implemented sanctions against Russia since 2014, following the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol from Ukraine, and the illegal invasion in 2022. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury, is responsible for the civil enforcement of financial sanctions breaches, including the imposition of civil monetary penalties. OFSI does not hold full information on the number of breaches across all sanctions measures against Russia. Since 2014, the UK has imposed fines totalling more than £20 million on firms for breaching financial sanctions related to Russia. OFSI has a range of enforcement tools it can use, in addition to civil monetary penalties, depending on the severity of the breach. These include issuing a private warning letter, publishing details of the breach but not issuing a penalty or making a referral to regulators.

Carbon Emissions

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Addressing carbon leakage risk to support decarbonisation, published on 30 March 2023.

Gareth Davies: As set out in the Autumn Statement, the government is considering responses to the consultation and the evidence to inform policy decisions, and will respond shortly.

Defence: Investment

Damien Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to encourage investment in the defence sector.

Laura Trott: The UK is committed to increasing investment in the defence sector to meet the challenges of an increasingly volatile and complex world. In the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh, the Government committed to an additional £5 billion to be provided to the Ministry of Defence over the next two years alongside the ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP in the long term. The Government also works closely with the private equity and venture capital community to attract private investment in dual use technologies through the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) and nascent NATO Innovation Fund (NIF).

Child Benefit

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing the three month limit on backdated payments for child benefit.

Nigel Huddleston: Where no one has claimed Child Benefit, the government allows claims to be backdated three months. Three months backdating is already more generous than most other social security benefits. A more generous backdating would make it harder to verify evidence and establish entitlement since entitlement to Child Benefit relies upon being responsible for a child each week. For this reason, the government believes that the three-month backdating period for Child Benefit is a fair and reasonable time in which to allow those wishing to claim Child Benefit to do so.

Child Benefit

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the average length of time that adoptive parents wait for approval of their application for child benefit.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the average wait time for applications for child benefit to be approved.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial impact on adoptive parents of the average time taken to have their application for child benefit approved.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of adoptive parents who waited more than five weeks for approval of their application for child benefit in 2022.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of adoptive parents who waited more than two months their application for child benefit to be approved in 2022.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of adoptive parents who waited more than three months for their application for child benefit to be approved in 2022.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of adoptive parents who waited more than four months for their child benefit application to be approved in 2022.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of adoptive parents who waited more than five months for their application for child benefit to be approved in 2022.

Ian Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of adoptive parents who waited more than six months for their application for child benefit to be approved in 2022.

Nigel Huddleston: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. While information is collected on birth child, adopted child and stepchild as part of the Child Benefit claim form, this information is not made available to HMRC for statistical analysis, and therefore the data cannot be used to categorize children/claims into adopted children. HMRC do have a “where’s my reply Tool” Check-when-you-can-expect-a-reply-from-HMRC which shows general processing time frames when customers have submitted a Child Benefit claim.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Bellwin Scheme

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the governance of the Bellwin Scheme at ensuring (a) local authorities have the capacity to administer the scheme and (b) that that scheme is used consistently.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Bellwin scheme.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the clarity of his Department's guidance on the Bellwin Scheme.

Simon Hoare: The Bellwin Scheme is administered centrally by the government. Local authorities can make an application for financial assistance to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities following an emergency or disaster in their area which requires them to take immediate action to protect life or property. Decisions to activate the scheme are taken by Ministers after careful consideration of the individual circumstances of each incident.The Bellwin Scheme is a well-established scheme that continues to be used to provide financial support for local authorities following an emergency or disaster in their area.Comprehensive guidance on the scheme is available on the GOV.UK website. It sets out the purpose of the scheme, the eligibility criteria and examples of eligible expenditure.

Housing: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had discussions with (a) Council leaders and (b) City of York Council on the availability of (a) affordable and (b) social housing.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of (a) local authorities and (b) City of York Council on (i) the adequacy of their financial position and (ii) whether they require additional financial support from central Government.

Simon Hoare: Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.

Local Government: Equality

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has conducted an audit of the number of people who are employed in equality, diversity and inclusion roles by councils in England.

Simon Hoare: Local authorities are independent employers and have a legal responsibility to comply with all relevant employment and equality legislation. Individual authorities must decide how many staff they need to carry out particular functions. Spending decisions including recruitment must be affordable and sensible, ensuring value for money for taxpayers.

Evictions: Pension Credit

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to prevent landlords evicting tenants that are in receipt of pension credit.

Jacob Young: The Renters (Reform) Bill had its Second Reading on 23 October and is currently going through its Committee Stage in the House of Commons.The Bill will abolish Section 21 evictions for all tenants in the private rented sector, including those in receipt of pension credit. This will deliver on the Government’s manifesto commitment and provide security for tenants living in the Private Rented Sector.

Economic Growth: Coastal Areas

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support economic growth in coastal communities.

Jacob Young: The Government is committed to promoting economic growth in all parts of the country including coastal communities.We have supported coastal communities to level up through dedicated funding under the Coastal Communities Fund, the Coastal Revival Fund and additional funding under the Welcome Back Fund, while the Levelling Up Fund has provided around £1 billion to projects in coastal areas and over £400 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is going to lead local authorities within or serving coastal areas in England, alongside major investment in the other nations of the UK.But it is not just about funds. 11 out of 12 Freeports and 7 out of 20 Levelling Up Partnerships are in coastal areas, demonstrating our deep commitment to unlocking the economic potential of coastal communities.In Southport we are investing £37.5 million through the Town Fund, which will be used to deliver the brand new 1200 seat ‘Marine Lake Events Centre’ with state of the art technical facilities, significant improvements to cycle and walking paths, upgraded road infrastructure, new public spaces and an business incubator for the Towns emerging creative/digital/tech sectors.

Homelessness: Temporary Accommodation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to provide emergency accommodation to homeless people that do not feel safe in hostels.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to ensure people that have experienced sexual violence are placed in Housing First accommodation rather than hostels.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to work with (a) the Home Department, (b) local authorities and (c) the police to identify landlords that are suspected of sexually exploiting female tenants and evicting them should they be non-compliant.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to instruct local authorities to provide (a) safe housing and (b) counselling support for women that have been sexually exploited by their landlord.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to ensure women at risk of exploitation are placed in (a) local authority and (b) housing association accommodation rather than the private rental sector.

Felicity Buchan: Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation for households owed the main homelessness duty until suitable long-term accommodation can be offered to them.  The accommodation must be suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household.Housing authorities have a continuing obligation to keep the suitability of accommodation under review.Everyone should be able to feel safe in their home and sexual exploitation of tenants has no place in our society. It is important that local authorities and the police work to tackle this issue and take action against criminal landlords.The Renters (Reform) Bill, which has been developed in consultation with the Home Office and local authorities, includes provisions which will help to drive out criminal behaviour. These include increased investigatory and enforcement powers to help local authorities crack down on criminal landlords, and amending the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 to provide local authorities with new powers to issue fines, as an alternative to prosecution, to those who illegally evict or harass tenants.Housing First is a model in which rough sleepers with the most complex needs are provided with stable, affordable accommodation and intensive wrap-around support to help them recover from complex issues and sustain their tenancies. This includes, but is not limited to, victims of sexual violence.

Renters (Reform) Bill

Andrew Lewer: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department consulted letting agencies on the Renters (Reform) Bill during the development of proposals for that Bill; and whether his Department has received representations from those agencies since the introduction of that Bill.

Jacob Young: The Government worked with a broad range of stakeholders to develop the measures in the Renters (Reform) Bill and has continued to engage with stakeholders since the Bill was introduced. This includes groups who represent and work with letting agents.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Redundancy Pay

Andrew Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the total cost to his Department has been of ministerial severance payments to outgoing Ministers of State for Housing since 13 May 2010.

Jacob Young: Details of such payments are published in departmental annual reports and accounts, and ministerial salaries are published here.

Department for Business and Trade

Delivery Services

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that age restrictions are appropriately enforced for people signing up to be delivery drivers.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Government is clear that all businesses must fulfil their legal obligations in respect of employment law.The Government is in regular conversation with businesses who utilise the service of delivery drivers. On 14th November Minister Jenrick hosted a roundtable with industry representatives. While onboarding processes are a matter for businesses themselves, this department continues to work closely with business to ensure that risks are minimised by ensuring business has robust onboarding systems and processes in place, to cover matters such as age verification.

Overseas Trade: Morocco

Ben Everitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to encourage bilateral trade between the UK and Morocco.

Greg Hands: The Department for Business and Trade regularly engages businesses and the Moroccan government to promote and support bilateral trade and green investment. The UK-Morocco Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2021, facilitates this trading relationship. Bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and Morocco was worth £3.4 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2023, up £661 million in current prices on the same period the previous year. In February 2023, the 2nd Association Council was held, when Ministers discussed how best to increase bilateral trade and investment.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with the Leader of the House on making time for a debate on a substantive motion on the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership during the ratification process.

Greg Hands: The Government is committed to effective scrutiny of its trade agenda and has put in place a comprehensive framework for scrutiny of free trade agreements (FTAs). This includes a commitment to seek to hold a general debate on a new FTA where one is requested by the relevant Select Committee in a timely manner, subject to parliamentary time. The Government's view is that a general debate is the appropriate mechanism for Parliament to debate a new FTA.

Arms Trade: Israel

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether UK manufactured arms have been sold to Israel in the last (a) 10 years, (b) five years and (c) one year.

Greg Hands: HM Government publishes Official Statistics on export licences granted, refused, and revoked to all destinations: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. Currently this includes information up to 31st March 2023. A licence being granted does not mean that an export takes place. Some licences may expire unused, and others may expire after only partial use. Some licences may also be revoked or suspended.

Defence Equipment: Exports

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what controls her Department places on the re-export of defence equipment.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the re-export of defence equipment.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what controls her Department places on the re-export of military equipment sold as surplus to requirements.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to monitor the re-export of defence equipment sold as surplus to requirements.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of its re-export controls on the sales of surplus military equipment.

Greg Hands: The UK system is based on having a thorough risk-assessment process for the original export licence before the goods leave the UK. Export licence applicants are required to inform us of any intention to re-export the goods at the time of submitting their export licence application. It is an offence for an export licence applicant to knowingly make a statement which is false, and any licence granted on the basis of this would become void. This encourages exporters to be clear on their export licence applications about known re-exports to third countries.We can and do refuse applications where there is a planned re-export that is inconsistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, or where we assess that the goods may be diverted to an undesirable destination.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions

Chris Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has a timeline for people who receive a Civil Service Pension to receive their remediable service statement.

Chris Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of when people who receive a Civil Service Pension will begin to receive their remediable service statement.

John Glen: We will start issuing Remedial Service Statements (RSS) from Spring 2024 and this will be completed in line with the legislative deadline of April 2025. This has been broken into cohorts starting with Ill Health Retirements and concluding with Deceased.

Blood: Contamination

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings (a) he and (b) his Department has had with individuals infected and affected by contaminated blood in each of the last five years.

John Glen: It is a measure of the scale of the infected blood scandal that the statutory Inquiry has over 2,000 infected and affected core participants. My predecessors as Ministers responsible for the Infected Blood Inquiry held formal roundtable meetings with groups of infected and affected people and representatives of campaign groups in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023, at which my predecessors were able to hear directly from infected and affected people. Further meetings took place with individuals and their Members of Parliament once each in 2021 and 2022. In addition to this, my predecessors have had informal meetings with groups of individuals while attending hearings of the Inquiry and in the margins of a Westminster Hall debate. My officials often correspond with and speak to individuals and campaigners in the course of their work.

Infected Blood Inquiry

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department will implement Recommendation 12 of the Second Interim Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, published 5 April 2023.

John Glen: Work is currently underway across Government to give thorough consideration to each of the recommendations that Sir Brian made in his second interim report. The Government is committed to acting swiftly in response to the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, and is awaiting its publication by the Inquiry.

Ministers: Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

John Penrose: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to section 1.3 of the report entitled Strengthening Ethics and Integrity in Central Government, published in July 2023, whether Ministers appointed in the reshuffle on 13 November 2023 were asked to sign a deed to abide by Advisory Committee on Business Appointment decisions.

Alex Burghart: The Government expects all former Ministers to abide by their obligations with regard to the Business Appointment Rules, as set out in the Ministerial Code. The work to develop a ministerial deed is ongoing and, as such, it has not yet been introduced.

Department for Transport

Aviation: Fuels

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to require aircraft to use unleaded fuels.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it her policy to measure the blood lead levels of children living near general aviation airfields.

Anthony Browne: The Government is supporting the development of new aviation fuels through a range of measures including developing a Sustainable Aviation Fuels mandate and the Advanced Fuels Fund.There are some specific issues for replacing avgas, a fuel used in piston aircraft which represents less than 1% of total UK aviation fuel use.An unleaded alternative, Unleaded 91, is now commercially available and may be used by much of the General Aviation sector. In addition, battery-electric aircraft have been certified for use in flight training. The Government encourages General Aviation operators to use unleaded alternatives to avgas when suitable for their aircraft.The Government has no plans to require the testing of children.DfT will continue to monitor progress in the transition away from leaded fuels working with DEFRA and the Health and Safety Executive who lead on the regulation of chemicals.

Aviation: Fuels

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives from airlines on fuel tankering.

Anthony Browne: The Department is aware of the practice of tankering whereby airlines may decide to take on additional fuel than is required for a given journey. Although tankering can be practiced for operational purposes, such as avoiding technical failures or contaminated fuel at destination airports, research suggests that 90% of tankering events are linked to fuel prices. In the Government’s consultation, published in March 2023, on the details of the sustainable aviation fuel mandate, we recognised the potential for increased tankering and the risk that it could potentially result in the transfer of carbon emissions to other locations or to an increase in overall carbon emissions. We welcomed views from industry stakeholders in the consultation and are currently reviewing the evidence provided before publishing our response.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department issues to highway authorities on best practice in local roads maintenance to achieve (a) value for money and (b) improved outcomes.

Guy Opperman: The Department strongly advocates a risk-based, whole lifecycle asset management approach to local authority highways maintenance programmes. This considers all parts of the highway network, such as bridges, cycleways, and lighting columns, and not just the fixing of potholes.The Department also encourages good practice in local highway maintenance for all local highway authorities and endorses the UK Roads Leadership Group’s Code of Practice 'Well-managed highway infrastructure' - https://www.ciht.org.uk/ukrlg-home/code-of-practice/. The Code gives advice on all aspects of highway maintenance.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Tahir Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will fund more speed cameras in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands.

Guy Opperman: It is up to the traffic authority and the police to decide whether to use speed cameras and how they wish to operate them. This is a local decision in which the Department for Transport does not become involved. The Department for Transport provides funds direct to local authorities, which may be used for road safety purposes, allowing authorities to spend their allocations according to their own priorities. It is therefore for each authority to decide how it allocates its resources and which transport improvement projects to support. This could include decisions on the installation of speed cameras.

Taxis: Subsidies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing subsidies for traditional black cab drivers in the context of the growth of alternative taxi service providers.

Guy Opperman: The government has no plans to provide subsidies in this area.

Bus Services

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 4 of the Sixth Special Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2022-23 on Implementation of the National Bus Strategy: Government response to the Committee’s Fourth Report, published on 6 June 2023, when he plans to publish guidance on social and economically necessary bus services.

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's response to the Transport Select Committee's report entitled Implementation of the National Bus Strategy, HC 1431, published 22 June 2023, what his Department's timescales are for the publication of new guidance on socially and economically necessary bus services.

Guy Opperman: We plan to publish new guidance on socially and economically necessary services (SENS) in this Parliament.

Bus Services

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Google and (b) other online providers of travel information on ensuring that information can be accessed on journeys that can be made involving demand responsive bus travel.

Guy Opperman: The Bus Open Data Service (BODS) ensures national bus timetables, fares, and live bus locations are provided from one open-source platform. Relevant legislation requires that this data be published by operators to improve services and passenger experiences through the availability of real-time journey planning information from online providers such as Google.The Department encourages the development of third-party applications and services that utilise the published data. Developers can create mobile apps, websites and tools that utilise bus data to offer passengers real-time information, route planning and more. This supports local passenger journeys by providing passengers with the tools and information needed to plan trips effectively, reducing information gaps and enhancing passenger satisfaction.The Department has amended the BODS data standards profile to accommodate demand responsive bus travel. We are also currently working with bus operators, their agents and technology providers to support product development and data submission, through webinars and other forms of engagement.

Lifeboats: Finance

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of the Rescue Boat Grant fund has been allocated as of 14 November 2023; and which lifeboat charities received funding.

Guy Opperman: A total of £5,663,211.89 was allocated to 104 different independent inshore and inland rescue boat charities by the Rescue Boat Grant Fund in six annual rounds between 2014 and 2020. The charities that received funding from the Rescue Boat grant Fund can be found in the attached document. Rescue Boat Grant Fund - Charities (docx, 19.5KB)

Northern Ireland Office

Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery

Jerome Mayhew: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Irish Government on the establishment of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government engages regularly with the Irish Government on a range of matters that benefit from partnership between our two countries.Most recently, I met with the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, on 12 October. A range of issues were discussed, including the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act. I encouraged the Irish Government to engage with the ICRIR in the coming months to understand its plans for implementation of the Act.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Women

Steven Bonnar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of SCS2 civil servants on full-time equivalent contracts in her Department are women.

Mark Spencer: In 2022/23 more than half of new entrants to the Civil Service were women (54.1%). In 2021/22 51.6% of new entrants and 53.9% of promotions to the Senior Civil Service were women. The proportion of Senior Civil Servants graded as SCS 2 in the department as of 30 September 2023, excluding arm’s length bodies, is 50%. The proportion was calculated by the number of female staff at Payband 2 (Director) and working full-time divided by the total number of staff at the department at Payband 2 (where sex is known). Monitoring of annual diversity statistics and recruitment data takes place to understand and evaluate progress in improving recruitment outcomes for protected characteristics. During recruitment, the department uses the Civil Service Success Profiles methodology which assesses candidates across several elements, allowing candidates to demonstrate their skills and experience. Some roles, given their nature, do still require a formal qualification. Sifting is anonymised and we use recruitment panels, to mitigate against bias. The department supports the Care Leaver programme as part of our career entry offer. This programme brings in young people who have been in Care and helps them gain experience of work, with a view to securing employment. There are a range of cross-Government leadership development opportunities available for women in the department, including but not limited to conferences, talent pipeline schemes and talent programmes. Participation in these development opportunities is actively encouraged throughout the department. The department also supports diverse working patterns and work life balance through a range of HR policies, including but not limited to policies on flexible working, special leave, parental leave, menopause and menstruation, pregnancy loss, and parental bereavement.

Fisheries: Migrant Workers

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on the number of migrant labourers working in the pelagic fleet.

Mark Spencer: The Department does not hold information on the number of migrant labourers working on pelagic vessels. The Seafish Industry Authority regularly conducts employment surveys of the fishing sector and these reports can be found on their website. Of the pelagic vessels that responded to the most recent survey, none reported migrant workers on their vessels.